Tag Archives: sci-fi thriller

The Cult from Beyond (Randolph Landon, P.I. Book 2) by Alan Golbourn Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

After being pulled back into the investigative world when a grieving widow asks for help finding his missing son, P.I. Randolph Landon discovers a cult dedicated to otherworldly beliefs, a mysterious girl with green hair, and an illusive preacher with glowing green eyes in author Alan Golbourn’s “The Cult from Beyond”, the second book in the author’s “Randolph Landon, P.I.” series. 

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The Synopsis

Paradise Comes at a Price …

Now settled in Lincolnshire with his family, having given up his private investigator business, Randolph Landon believes he is done with the job. That is until Norman Parker comes along. Shortly after losing his wife, Norman’s son, Oliver, goes missing. Randolph decides to take on the case to help the grieving widower and discovers a strange symbol on the back of a photograph.

Discovering that Oliver has become involved with a strange cult and a mysterious green-haired girl, Randolph finds himself getting in deep once more — and ventures down yet another dark and chilling path. With the help of a detective friend back in London, things soon lead to a terrifying confrontation with an illusive preacher — with glowing green eyes …

The Review

 This was a powerful and captivating thriller. The way the author was able to flip the script of this series from occult horror into a steely and gripping sci-fi thriller was great to see play out in the novel. The tension that builds as the protagonist makes his way further and further into the cult and the mystery that swells as the detective seeks answers to the true origins of the cult made this narrative truly shine brightly in the genre.

To me, the heart of the narrative rested in the author’s strong character progression. Fans of the first book will be delighted in seeing the progression and growth that the protagonist exhibits, giving him real stakes as his family’s happiness and safety motivate him to keep going in his investigation. The mythos surrounding the cult and its origins, including the small town they end up engaging with as the protagonist seeks answers, all kept the reader invested in the narrative.

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The Verdict

Thrilling, action-packed, and entertaining, author Alan Golbourn’s “The Cult From Beyond” is a must-read sci-fi thriller novel you won’t be able to put down. Capturing the enigmatic rise of sci-fi cults in that era of time and adding a twist of genre-bending mythos, the author was able to infuse the spirit of the great detective narrative with a bit of Irish folk horror and powerful sci-fi storytelling to create a book that is impossible to put down. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

Alan Golbourn was born in Essex, England. He has enjoyed writing stories since a young age, when he was recognised early for his writing abilities. Amongst several interests and hobbies, including football and computer games, he holds a love and compassion for animals.

SYMUTAL by Dean Alexandrou Review

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I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. 

A young hacker hired to update security for a private company in the future must battle government agents as the world heads towards the point of no return and the arrival of the Algorithm Singularity in author Dean Alexandrou’s “SYMUTAL”.

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The Synopsis

“The ping of the oven cut like a shard of glass through brain tissue, tearing apart the cloth of melancholia that she wore like a hood.”

The year is 2057. In one month humanity will have passed the point of no return – the Algorithm Singularity. Automated systems that run society will have cast a net too tight to break free from. As the singularity approaches, Omicore becomes the first private company to build a server farm on the Moon, out of reach of terrestrial interference.

“The counter response from a system too complex for us to understand will be both unpredictable and deadly.”

Page, a socially awkward but prodigal hacker is hired by Omicore to work on their next generation security, using a new form of simulated consciousness. When government agents try to shut the company down the unfinished research is the only thing standing in their way, and must fight back for all of humanity.

“Nothing is legal when it challenges the authority of those who make the laws.”

The Review

This was a compelling and gripping sci-fi thriller. The author does a fantastic job of touching upon the theme of the dangers of A.I. and the harm that can come with allowing the technology to advance without any laws or supervision, and the problems that can come with automating every aspect of our lives. The real dangers that technology has gone unchecked can have on everyday life is perfectly illustrated in the opening chapter of the book, showing how the lack of human emotion or empathy can leave a cold and calculating worldview that doesn’t allow for room to grow, and punishes people for possibilities rather than actual misdeeds.

The imagery and tension the author built were perfectly captured in the cold settings and a detailed look at the process of programming and coding, let alone the technology behind A.I. and automated systems in general. The character development balanced the detached technology aspect of the narrative and gave readers an emotional investment in the story as the fight for humanity truly began, even amongst themselves.

The Verdict

Memorable, action-packed, and engaging, author Dean Alexandrou’s “SYMUTAL” is a must-read sci-fi thriller of 2023! The twists and turns in the narrative, the shocking fates of the characters, and the emphasis the author puts on both the possibility and the dangers of A.I. made this story flow smoothly and kept me enraptured with the narrative until the book’s final page. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today!

Rating: 10/10

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About the Author

I was born in Dubai UAE, moved to England when I was 5, and grew up in London. Currently I live in Bangkok Thailand with my girlfriend. My background has been a mix of different careers and locations, with a lot of technology roles (I have spent a lot of time as a programmer, and digital nomad), and have also had a few forays into the entertainment industry. Suffice to say I find it difficult to completely categorise myself in any normal, sensible way!

Much of this contrasting medley of places manifests itself through my writing, and will be apparent in the book Symutal, whose story is interwoven between Earth, the Moon, and virtual reality, but with a strong interlinking storyline. It is speculative, dystopian fiction, but with occasional scenes borrowed from my own experiences.